Supertwins
Statistics
The
MOST birth survey asked several questions about breastfeeding multiples.
73.3%
of mothers planned to breastfeed or provide breast milk
69.6% actually did provide breast milk
for some period of time
The chart below provides more details.
| Breast Milk Feeding Method |
Average Time |
Range |
| Breastfeeding
|
14.5 weeks |
1 to 120 weeks |
| Pumped breast milk
|
12.5 weeks |
.5 to 112 weeks |
| Breastfed and pumped |
13.5 weeks |
.5 to 120 weeks |
| Type of Multiples |
Percent who provided some breast milk |
Average time some breast milk provided |
Average days in the NICU |
Average days in hospital prior to discharge |
Twins |
69.2% |
14.0 weeks |
4 |
9 days |
| Triplets |
68.9% |
13.6 weeks |
20 |
24 days |
| Quadruplets |
72.6% |
13.4 weeks |
34 |
40 days |
| Quintuplets |
76.7% |
13.5 weeks |
44 |
53 days |
| Sextuplets |
85.7% |
11.1 weeks |
59 |
67 days |
Observation and Recommendation:
In
order to help mothers of multiples have a positive breastfeeding experience
and successfully continue to supply breast milk beyond the minimal 3
month recommendation, MOST recommends that hospitals offer opportunities
to breastfeed and transitional nursing experience prior to the infants'
discharge from the hospital. Additional support resources for new mothers
might include lactation consultants well versed in premature infant
and higher-order multiple birth (HOM) parenting, as well as referrals
to support networks and other parents of premature or multiple birth
infants.
See our Breastfeeding Multiples FAQs for more information about breastfeeding multiples, and to help parents of multiples succeed during brestfeeding or pumping, MOST has created an extensive booklet titled Breastfeeding Multiples that is available from the MOST Supertwins Store.
Updated 07/13/07
